Troy steps up to get win

Flying Horses overcome loss of key players to top La Salle

Published 11:48 pm, Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Troy's Jerrell Reid goes to the basket defended by LaSalle's Elijah Burns during their boy's high school basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Troy's Jerrell Reid goes to the basket defended by LaSalle's Elijah Burns during their boy's high school basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Troy's Jerrell Reid blocks a shot by LaSalle's Ralph Erickson during their boy's high school basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Troy's Jerrell Reid blocks a shot by LaSalle's Ralph Erickson during their boy's high school basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Troy's Jerrell Reid shoots a three point shot during their boy's high school basketball game against LaSalle on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Troy's Jerrell Reid shoots a three point shot during their boy's high school basketball game against LaSalle on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Troy's Javion Ogunyemi goes to the basket during their boy's high school basketball game against LaSalle on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Troy's Javion Ogunyemi goes to the basket during their boy's high school basketball game against LaSalle on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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LaSalle's Elijah Burns takes a shot during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

LaSalle's Elijah Burns takes a shot during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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LaSalle's Dominic Razzano drives to the basket during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

LaSalle's Dominic Razzano drives to the basket during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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LaSalle's Ralph Erickson passes off the ball during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

LaSalle's Ralph Erickson passes off the ball during their boy's high school basketball game against Troy on Tuesday Jan. 15,2013 in Troy, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Troy steps up to get win

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TROY — Rallying around each other was the theme at halftime for the Troy High boys' basketball team as they entered intermission trailing La Salle Institute by four points.

The Flying Horses were already playing without sophomore starting point guard Isaiah Dobere, who is suspended from the team indefinitely for violations of team rules.

Senior forward Jerrell Reid played a superlative first half, but a hip injury limited him severely in the second half. Troy coach Rich Hurley relied on some veterans and players with suddenly expanded roles to pull this game out.

Javion Ogunyemi scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as Troy generated a 60-46 Big 10 victory over the Cadets.

"My hip is really messed up right now," Reid said while holding an ice pack on his right hip. "I didn't play that much, but my teammates were able to step up."

Senior point guard Jordan Nelson stepped into Dobere's spot. Although he didn't score, Nelson did a number of things well for the Flying Horses (9-2, 9-1), ranked No. 12 in the state Class AA poll.

Testo elaborated a message Hurley had to his team at halftime.

"He is always saying, 'Next guy up' and we're going to do that," Testo said. "Jordan Nelson is going to play a big part on this team. I'm going to come in and get rebounds. It is all about defense. We know we can score with Jerrell and Javion."

"He did a great job and we're going to lean on him going forward," Hurley said of Nelson. "He had a football injury earlier in the season, but he is over that. Liam played great. We're going to move Dyaire to (the point guard spot) some, too."

Reid not only had physical issues to deal with, but he also was on the witness stand Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of shooting him May 29, 2012.

"I sat with him in the courthouse. He was on the witness stand for over two hours," Hurley said.

La Salle (7-5, 7-3) opened the second half with a 3-pointer from senior point guard Ralph Erickson, who led all scorers with 28 points. Radz answered with a 3-pointer to help spark a 14-0 surge by Troy.

"Once the ball starting going in the basket, everyone started to calm down," Ogunyemi said.

"In the second half, we played well," Hurley said.

La Salle rallied within two points late in the third quarter and still trailed only 46-42 with junior forward Elijah Burns playing with four fouls. Testo opened up what would be the decisive surge for the Flying Horses with a post move, followed immediately by baskets from Ogunyemi and Holt.

"I thought he played pretty well and Elijah needs to be in a rhythm. He never got in a rhythm," La Salle coach Steve Sgambelluri said. "They scored more easy baskets than we did and the team that usually scores more easy baskets wins."

"Erickson had a good game, but he can't win it by himself. We shut down the other guys," Testo said.